Pompe, the female personification of a procession, between Eros and Dionysos
Oinochoe. Attic.
Mid-4th cent. BCE.
H. 23.5, diam. 17.3 cm.
Inv. No. 25.190.New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Pompe, the female personification of a procession, between Eros and Dionysos.

Oinochoe. Attic.
Mid-4th cent. BCE.
H. 23.5, diam. 17.3 cm.
Inv. No. 25.190.

New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Origin:
Rogers Fund, 1925
Description:
Pompe, the female personification of a procession, between Eros and Dionysos; names inscribed.

Pompe, whose mantle only accentuates her nudity, holds a wreath and looks toward Dionysos, seated and wearing a diadem. The winged Eros adjusts his sandals as though preparing to depart. The gilt openwork basket on the ground is the type used in religious processions to carry sacrificial implements to the place of sacrifice. This procession must be part of an Athenian festival in honor of Dionysos, probably the Anthesteria, which culminated in the sacred marriage of the god to the wife of the archon basileus, a high official representing the ancient Athenian kings. This is one of the most refined vase-paintings in the entire collection. The graceful figure of Pompe reflects full-scale statues of Aphrodite in the nude that were being carved in the wake of the first nude statue of the goddess created by Praxiteles in the mid-fourth century B.C.

Credits:
(cc) 2019. Photo, text: The Metropolitan Museum of Art (CC0 1.0).
Keywords: κεραμικά ceramics clay terracotta ceramica keramik céramique ελλάδα grecia graecia hellas greece griechenland grèce αττική attika attica attic attique jug brocca kanne pichet technique tecnica vasenmalerei ερυθρόμορφος red figure red-figure red-figured a rosse rotfigurige rotfiguriger à figures rouges οινοχόη οἰνοχόη oinochoe oenochoe œnochoé ελληνική μυθολογία mythologia graeca greek mythology mitologia greca griechische mythologie grecque διώνυσος dionysus dioniso dionysos ἔρως έρως eros éros personification personificazione personifikation personifizierung personnification πομπή pompe pompa thyrsus tirso thyrse θύρσος thyrsos corona wreath kranz couronne cloak mantello mantel manteau μανδύα alatus alata winged alato geflügelt ailé φτερωτό meander meandros meandro mäander méandre μαίανδρος half-naked seminude seminudo halbnackter moitié nu branch ramo ast zweig branche rameau seated sitting siede seduta seduto sitzt sitzende sitzender assis assise ritual item oggetto ritualeё ritualgegenstand article rituel transparent and translucent clothing abbigliamento trasparente traslucido transparente durchscheinende kleidung vêtement translucide klismos chair with curved backrest outcurved legs sedia con schienale curvo e gambe curve concavo stuhl mit gebogener rückenlehne und gebogenen beinen gebogene chaise avec dossier et jambes courbes κλισμός tying his sandal fixing fastening chess ornament chequer ornamento di scacchi schach-ornament ornement d’échecs basket for sacrificial gifts to carry implements cestino rituale per doni sacrificali ritualkorb für opfergaben panier pour les cadeaux sacrificiels inv no 25 190